President Zourabichvili Condemns Georgian Dream's EU Suspension, Calls for New Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, November 29, 2024
Following the Georgian Dream's announcement to suspend negotiations with the European Union, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili met with ambassadors from EU member states and opposition party representatives. After the meeting, Zourabichvili held a briefing where she addressed the police, the army, and the diplomatic corps.
In her speech, the President strongly condemned the actions of the ruling party, claiming that they marked the end of Georgia's path towards European integration. "Today an end was put to the constitutional coup, which has been started for several weeks or months. Today marked the end of the departure from Europe to Russia that began several months, if not longer," she said.
Zourabichvili stressed that the ruling government's decision was not a step towards peace, but a declaration of war against the people and the future of Georgia. "Today, this non-existent, illegitimate government has declared not peace, but war on its own people, its own past and future, our future, the future of our society and country," the President stated. "Because on this path there is no statehood, no independence, no future, except Russia."
The President then expressed her disappointment in the delay of the international community's response to the situation. "I called the diplomatic corps today and told them that the evaluations were a little late. They expected that there might be something else to prove. There is nothing left to prove, I told them again. Everything is confirmed, everything is clear, and if one does not see that it is clear, it is still proof that Putin expressed his satisfaction with everything in a few minutes and praised the authorities for his obedience."
Zourabichvili urged the diplomats to take decisive action and support Georgia's demand for new elections. "I appealed to them and asked them to make all the decisions that were acceptable for so long and to help us in the only demand, which is our demand and the demand of the people - to appoint and hold new elections. This is our solution and what we are fighting for," she said.
The President also addressed the Georgian military. "I want to appeal to the Georgian army, the army which is hurting the most today," she said. "Who cannot do anything today and is not obligated to do anything, but they are the most loyal to this country, who is most heartbroken that this country is returning to that Russia, from which we have barely come out, we have proved our independence."
Zourabichvili honored Georgia's national heroes, stating, "The portraits of all our national heroes are displayed in this building [Orbeliani Palace], and they will be here, no one can take it away, just as no one can take away our independence."
The President concluded her address by making a direct appeal to the police, urging them to serve the country, not Russian interests. "I want to address the police, the real police," she said. "The police that serve the state. You are nothing without the state, it is your duty to protect citizens, not slaves, Russians and traitors. You should take into your hands what is up to you."
